Osaka Mayor Claims Keeps Up Sex Slaves Campaign

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto made once again found himself with his foot in his mouth, referring to the women forced to serve as sex slaves for the Japanese military during the World War II.

"Europeans and Americans say 'Japanese used sex slaves'. We have to educate Japanese to be able to argue and reply to them, 'We were wrong, but you were wrong as well'," he said, according to Japanese Mainichi Shimbun.

In a speech in Osaka on Sunday, Hashimoto said, "After landing in Normandy, allied soldiers raped French women. 'Comfort stations' were built after things became too much. It is a historical fact."

"It is an unfortunate past," he added. "We must never repeat it."

In May last year, Hashimoto aroused controversy by saying, "In the circumstances in which bullets are flying like rain and wind, the soldiers are running around at the risk of losing their lives. If you want them to have a rest in such a situation, a comfort women system is necessary. Anyone can understand that."